Electric coupler-action for organs.



J. 0. FUNKHOUSER.

ELECTRIC COUPLER ACTION FOR ORGANS.

2 SHBETS--SH'EBT 1.

L @Janie/z@ es e] Wi h1 @ons J. ofFUNKHoUsER. Y

ELECTRIC COUPLER ACTION FOR ORGANS.

PPLIOATION FILED Hum, 190e.

Patented Feb. 1, 1910` atto'onu JACOB o. FNKHOUSEE, .or HAGEEsrowN, MARYLAND.

i ELECTRIC COUPLER-ACTION FOR RGANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

Application tiled February 6, 1908. Serial No. 414,547.

To ctlwhom 'it may concern: y

Be it known that I, JACOB (o). FUNKiioU Vsnit, citizen ofthe United States, residing at -Hagerstown, 1n the county of Vashington and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Coupler-Actions for Organs, of which the following is a specitication.A

This invention comprchcnds certain new anduseful improvements in pipe organ actions, and relates particularly to an electrically coupled pipe organ iii which the coupler action is designed to be manipulated by the organist at the console to couple together the dilferent banks or registers oit pipes, by electrically actuated means.

The invention has for its primary object, 4a simple and efficient coupler action which will be wholly electric, and in which the multiple point switches may be entirely separate from the console whereby the cables leading` tothe keys may bevof relatively small diameter, which is a desideratum where a movable `:onsole is necessary, only one contact being re-j quired for each key with'niy invention. And' the invention also has for its object a coupler action of the character above mentioned which will possess the characteristics of rcliability and simplicity,.and which will et `feet, a saving in installation and mainte# nance..

With these and other objects 1n view as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combina*V y tions of the-parts that I' shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.`

For a full understanding of the invention, refe-rence `is to be hadl to the following description and accompanying drawings in which Fi ure l is a diagrammatic View illustrat g ing tie application of my invention; Fig. 'Q

isa transverse sectional view through one of the wind chests of a pipe organ, the view being alsoin the nature of a difigi am: Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View through the box containing a set of switch magnets; and, Fig.. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the switch magnets employed, and hereinatter specifically described.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingr description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

For the purpose of illustration only, I

. type',

shall show in Fig. l of the drawings, my irlvention as it would appear diagraminatically -applied toa ,pipe organ v0i" the two manual type, having a bank of say sixty-one Swell keys` a lower bank comprising the same. num

ber of .Great keys, and the ordinary bank of Pedal keys, the same'being designated 1, 4 and 7. t

In carrying out the invention, each of the Swell keys is provided with a single contact member 2, connected electrically at all timesby a lead 3 with the main N leading to the battery or other source ofelectric supply. Similarly, each pipe of the Great keys 4 is provided with a single con-tact linger 5 connected by a lead 6 to the main N, and each one of the.Pedal keys 7 is provided with a single contact finger 8 electrically connected by a corresponding lead 9 to said main.

The switch of which the finger 1.2 is one element has its corresponding element in the contact member l0, it., being understood that there are a plurality of Contact members 10 one foreach of thekeys of the` Swell organ.' Each one ot these contact members 1() is connected by a lead 11 to one of the poles of a switch magnet 12 of the ordinary horse-shoe there being a plurality ofl these magnets provided, one for each key inthe Swell register. The opposite pole of each switch magnet 1Q is electrically connected .to a common conductor 13 for the entire series of switch magnets 12, and to this end the conductor 13 is electrically connected to the other main P leading from the battery.l

From the description up to this point, it will be understood that whenever one of the Swell keys is depressed by the player the circuitthrough the battery or other source of supply is closed at the point'2-10, where-. upon the current flowing through the main P will energize the switch magnet A12 which is included in the circuits controlled by the particular ley and attract its armature 14 so as to cause said armature to contact with a switch point 15. This switch. point is connected by a lead 16 to one of the pins 517 ot the stop switch, .the circuit being bridged from the pin 17 to its complementary pin 18 by means of a blade 19.1 `he bltaldes 19 are diiv licatedt'or as many {eys as' iere are 1n tlig) Swell organ, and all of said ,blades 19 project from a shaft Q0 jouriialed framework (not shown) of the switch board, the shaft being turned` to effect the simultaneous engagement of its blades 19 with the in the entire series of complemental switch pins 17- and 18 entirely across the switch board by any desired means well known to 'those versed in the art to which thi'sinvention appertains..

The pin 18't is connected lo. r a lead" to -a lcoupler conductor 22 for the well couplers, and this conductor in turn isconnected. by a lead 23 to a pipe controlling magnet 24. It is to be understood that there are a plurality of pipe controllingmagnets 24, sixty-one, for instance, one for each of the Swell keys 1, and it is the function of these magnets to sound the pipes when the magnets are energized. It is also to be understood that there are, say, sixty-one of the coupler conductors 22 in the switch board, one for each of the Swell organ keys and circuits controllcd by said keys.

25 designatesv a pallet armature for the magnet 24, the same controlling the air passages of the wind chest, as will be presently described in Fig. 2 of the drawings. A lead 26 connects the other pole of the magnet 24 with a conductor 27 in the form of a plate y common to all the magnets of the Swell' chest, and said plate 27 is connected by the main N to the main N, as clearly illustrated in the drawings in Fig. l.

Referring further to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the finger 5 of the Great key 4 is adapted vto contact with the contact member 28. This contact member 28 is connected by means of a lead 29 to a switch magnet 30, the latter in turn being connected to a. conductor 31, common to the entire set of magnets 30, the conductor31 being connected as shown to the positive main P. The armature 32 of each magnet 30 is adapted to form simultaneous contact with a plurality of switch points 33 which are two in number in the present instance. One of these switch points is connected by a lead 34 to a switch pin similar to the pin 17 andadapted to coact with a complemental pin 36, the latter being electrically connected to` the conductor 22 as shown and thereby also connected to thepipefcontrolling magnet 24 of the wind chest. `rlfhe other of these switch points 33 is connected by al lead 37 to a switch pin'- 38 adapted to be electrically, connected or bridged to a switch pin 39 electrically con nectedA to .a coupler conductor 40. The coupler conductor 40 is-connected by a lead 41 to a pipe controlling magnet 42, there being a plurality of these magnets 42 which govern vthe pipes .of the wind chest of the Great organ, as the magnets 24 govern the wind chest ofthe Swell organ. `Each of the magnets 42 is connected by a'ilead 43 to a conductor 44, and the latter is connected as shown to the main N.

Each Pedal key is' adapted to have its single contact finger 8 engage 'the contact member 45, and a lead46 connects the con- The switch magnet 47 is connected to a common conductor 48, and said conductor is in turn connectedto the positive main P as shown 1n Fig. 1. The armature 49 of the switch magnet-47 is adapted to make si1nul' taneous contact with al plurality of switch points 50 of vwhich there are three in the present instance. One of these switch points 1s connected by a lead 51 to a switch point 52 adapted to be bridged to a switch pin 53 that is electrically connected to the coupler conductor 40 above mentioned. The second of these switch points 50 is connected by a lead 54 to a switch pin 55 coacting with a similar pin 56 leading to the coupler corr duc'torf 22 before mentioned. And the third of these switch points 50 is connected by a lead 57 to a switch pin 58 adapted to be bridged to the corresponding pin 59, and this last named pin is connected to a conductor 60 leading to the pipe controlling magnet 61 of the Pedal wind chest. There are a plurality of magnets G1, for instance either seventeen or thirty as the case may be, one for each of thel Pedal keys 7 and they are adapted to control the Pedal chest just as the magnets 42 control the Great chest and the magnets 24 the Swell chest. All. of the magnets ('51 are connected to a common conductor 62. The latter in turn is elcctrically connected to the. main N', before meutioned.

As has been before stated, I have selected for the purpose of illustration only, a two manual organ capable of coupling the Great to the Pedal, the Swel-l to the Great and the Swell to the Pedal. For the purpose of mak- .ing the detail operation of the operation perfectly clear, I have marked the several contact points governed by the switch board as follows.:l Sw Unis, Sw to Gr: Sw to Ped: Gr Unis; Gr to Ped; and Ped Unis indi eating the following couplers, to wi.t,'Swe'll Unison, Swell to Great. Swell to Pedal,

Great Unison, Great toPedal, and Pedal Unison.y In describing the different circuits, I deem it necessary to only refer to, say two instances or examples. I shall ii'rst describe the circuits and the electrical actuation of the parts when the Swell is coupled to the Great organ and then describe the coupling of the Swell to the Pedal. lWhen it is.' desired to couple the Swell organ to the Great,

the conso e will draw the properly desig-v nated coupler stop or push the proper button, or depress a foot pedal or other ine-v clianical means, as the case may be, so as to turn the shaft of the switch board ,in a direction to brid e all of the sixty-one contacts designate 36 and 35. Consequently, upon the depression of thekey 4, that is,

anyone'of the keys of the Great organ, "the 29, contact members QS and 5, and llead 6 and main N 'to the battery or source of supply as indicated by the relatively light darts. Y

vAt the same time, the currentflowing from the battery through the armature 32 that his been moved by the energization of the switch magnet 30 against the two switch points 323, will Icontinue' through the-lead 34 and switch points 35 and 36 that have been ln'idged, as betore described, to the couple conductor 22, and thence through tlie 1nag net :2l ot the Swell chest. and baci: to the battery through the lead N', the direction of the current from the switch magnet 30 to thc'magnet 24 being designated by heavy larts and the return from said magnet to the source Aof supply by relatively light darts.

In4 the second ot' the examples, that is, in .xoupling the Swell organ to the Pedal, the contact points 55 and Gwill be bridged, and

therexmon as soon as any ot the keys 7 ot.

the Pedal key board are depressed, a circuit -will be closed b v the contact of the members 8, and The circuit will Abe setup from the lfiattery through the main lead P andl magnet 47, as indicated 'bythe heavy darts in dotted lines, and back through the lead 4G and pointsl 45 and S and lead 9 to the battery by the relatively light darts in dot-- ted lines. .ind another circuit will be established through the armature-Sand one of the Contact members 50 and through the lead '54, as indicated'by the darts in heavy lines`v to the points and 56 and thence by means of the coupler conductor '22 to the magnet 24 and back through the common return lead N'.

From these 'two instances,it is believed that all of the circuits necessary for any amplification of theparrangement shown will be thoroughly understood. For instance, although l. have not carried out the arrangement to such au extent, it is manifest that in a three manual organ, the switch magnets and other parts may be so arranged as to effect, say. nine different coupling combinations, for instance, Swell Unison, Swell'to Great, Swell to Great Super, Swell to Great Sub, Choir to Great, Choir to Great Super, Swelll to Great Sub, Great to Great Super, and Great to Great Sub, in addition` to the ordinary Pedal couplers.

l have hereinbefore stated that there are as many of the switch magnets for each wind chest and ai: many pipe controlling magnets lsuch those designated "Z4, l2 and 61, for the respective wind chests, as there are keys in the different key boards controlied conventional-.ly just how each one of the magnets :24, t2 and 6l operates, reference, is to be had to Fig. 2,-wherein I h ave illustrated a portion oia a conventional wind chest,al

4though it is vto be understoed'thatmy invention'is not limited to any particular construction thereo. Each set of. magnets, say

theA magnets 24, is contained in an air tight b ox containinrr air under pressure, and" 4extending the full length of the key board, the armatures 25 of the respective magnets being adaptcd'to seat upon vent pipes 64' extending down through' the bottom of the case or box G3, Air passagesV G5 are adapted to communicate at one en d with the respective vent tubes 65 and at their other ends said passages ($5 are in communication with the upper sidev of diaphragms G6, and vthe lower sides'of said diaphragms are in com- -munication witn the chest or trunk 67 containing' air under pressure. Each diaphragm (36 has a. rod GS connected thereto with. valves (bland 70 attached to said rod, the said valves being arranged to alternately close ports 71 and 72, the ports 72 being in communication with the atmosphere. The

nets 24 senergized, its pallet will be :1tvtractedto 1t so as to permit the air from the passages 65 to vent through the tube -(i4. This will result in causing the'diz'lpl'iragm G6 to rise so as to permit thepassae 73 to .be y vented to' the. atmosphere andD consequently the membrana) whichotherwise closes across the partition 75, will be drawn baekwardly from the partition so as to permit the air from the wind chest box to escape aroundthe partiton and through the 'pipe to sound 'the same. This action takes.

place whenever any of the keys of the organ are depressed so as to 4'close the clrcuit for the' energlzation of the wlnd chest magnets.

. passage 73 between the two ports 71 and 72 leads to the usual channeled cap plate 'ft'so as to supply air to the rear face of'the orch- In the coupling action before described, it is obvious that by a very simple arrangement of the parts, without any compounding of the windings o'the several magnets, and without causing the several magnets to act through intermediate wind chests, any of the keys of one, portion of the organ may be caused tosoundnot only corresponding pipes of the chest to which they belong, but any corresponding pipes of one or more of the other chests, so far as the Wiring permits this coupling action to take place, this beine, of course, governed according as judgment. may dictate.

i' screwing down on the-ot er,"the magnet may.

.12,30 or 4F71, the magnet 47 being selected in'.

the presepiyinstance for the purpose `o fl dcscription, may .beofthe ordinary horeshoel typewith simple winding, and itis su ortrocker 78, the'rocker being'sli htlyiarc ed,

screws 7 9,'between which 'a';y md80 be raised or lowered, or adjusted vertically 1n proper juxtaposition. to its armature49. The latter maybe adjustedfas desired by means of a screwj81-passedfup' through the foundation board of. the switch box 82, 'as

best seen iii-Fig. 2*.

lt is of course .to of the conductors'13, 3l and/18; 27, iifand 62; and the common conductors 1*, L@and 7 under the lreys'all extend thezfull width 0f the organ. It is also to beunderstood that` the switch magnets of each set arev inclosed in a dust proof box, such as thatdesignatedl S2 iii-Fig. 2, so as toinsure against dust lcollecting onthe contacts which would obl viously affect the proper working of the,

I .is claimed-as' new i`s:`

. a single member to open and c bodying. a plurality of AWin in each of which oneof'the switch magnets. is included, each key being osel the circuit of.. its corresponding Vswitch magnet, means for energizingeach of. said 'pipe controlling magnets ,upon the energizationpoi. .its switch magnet, means' for energizing one ofsaid pipe controlling magnets -upon theenergiza-l 4 tionof the switch magnet of another-pipe controlling magnet, and stop switches con-- trolling said en er iz'ing means,

2. .An electrical y coupled peorgan, em-

bodying a plurality of win chests, a pipe controlling magnet '-ineachwind chest, a. plurality 'of switch magnets one 4for each' pipe controlling magnet, a plurality of keys be understood 'ont leach'- prdvided within -ea'chof'whiclr'one o the switch magnets is `included,\^ eacli keyvbeing provided uiith a single contactm'ember arrangedlto operi andv close the circuitof its corresponding switch magnet, a direct' electrical connection between each of the pipe controlling vmagnets and itscorresponding' switi'h magnet, al connection betweenone of said uipe controlling magnets andthe switch magnet of another pipeV controlling magnet, all-of said connections being normally open, the last named vconnection` and .one of the`irstnamed conections being arranged to be simultaneously tilopen' and close all of such connections independently of the switch magnets.

3. An'electrically coupled pipe organ embodying a plurality of wind chests, a pipe 'controlling magnet in each wind chest, a switch magnet, a lreyan.electric circuit in key having a` single contact member artric circuits one Vfor each of the pipe conJ -trollin cluding al switch point,- an varmature arranged to contact with said switch points simultaneously upon the energization of the trolling magnets are included, Iand stop switches arranged.' tor open and close said 1. An electrically coupled (pipe organ, em'-v chests, a pipef' connecting'magnet 1nv eachwindcliest, a: "plurality 'of switch magnets one' for-eachpipe controlling magnet, a plurality of keys, one for each switch magnet, electric circuits' last named circuits.' t l .4. 'Anelectrically coupled pipe organ emcontrolling magnet in each Wind chesta. s witch magnet, an electricl circuit in which saidswitch magnet is included, a key having a single contact member arranged to open andiclose said circuit, other electric circuits, in each of whichone of the pipe controlling magnets is included,`said circuits each in- 'cluing also a. switch point, an armature in .all of'said last named circuits arranged energization of the magnet for the purpose pecifed, and stop switches in .said last named circuits.' I In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

v Jioo o. rUNKuoUsra. ,in a] *one foreach switch ma net,l el ectric circuits which the switch magnet is included, the.

rang dto open and close said circuit, elec-rmagnets, each ofsaid circuits inswitch magnet,'s'aid armature beingincluded y 0 in both of the circuits in which the pipe coit- Having thus described the lnventio'n, what bodyingr 'a plurality of windchests, a pipeA c o sed Yby the. energization 'of one of the switchma'gnets, and stop switches arranged' to engage all of said A`switch points upon the 

